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The Essential Guide to Lightroom

Learn how to make the most of your Lightroom software, and take control of your digital workflow!

Adobe Lightroom expert Skott Chandler guides you through essential software skills to streamline your digital workflow and create your best images yet. Learn how to use Lightroom to import files from various sources, and quickly catalog hundreds of images for easy access. Find out how to use the Library module to efficiently sort, rank and group your images, and delve into the Develop module to instantly apply adjustments to multiple photos. Dramatically improve the quality of your shots with customized presets for modifying white balance, contrast, sharpness and color. Plus, get Skott’s easy-to-use tips for locating lost files, backing up your photos and using metadata to leave your digital fingerprint on your images.

Lesson plan

12:18

Lesson 1. Introduction & Catalogs

Meet your instructor, photographer and Lightroom expert Skott Chandler. You’ll kick off the class with an overview of Lightroom and the benefits it provides to photographers of just about every experience level. Next, you’ll gain an understanding of file types and the ways you will work with each as you go from field work to your digital darkroom.

43:24

Lesson 2. Optimizing Settings

Learn how to take more control of your work with settings that are optimized for the best possible outcome. Discover ways to achieve the optimal image resolution to avoid loss of critical information, and create a Lightroom catalog that is personalized to your files and personal workflow preferences.

26:48

Lesson 3. Importing Files & Metadata

Explore myriad options to make the importing process as efficient as possible! Whether you are importing a small or enormous batch of images, Skott’s tips will help you effectively set up your Lightroom preferences to import, handle, sort and identify your work the way you want.

18:18

Lesson 4. Library Tab Module

What are the differences among Lightroom’s catalog, collection and folders? Find out the answer to this and much more as Skott shares tips and troubleshooting techniques for navigating the Library Tab module. You’ll also learn how to apply metadata to your files in order to quickly find and safeguard your photos.

15:10

Lesson 5. Post-Import Management

Delve even deeper into data organization as you work with post-import processes such as sorting, finding lost files and rating your favorite (or least favorite) images. Skott shares tips that will help transform your post-import work experience from arduous to effortless!

11:16

Lesson 6. Develop Tab Module

Carry your work from the Library module into the Develop module with Skott’s help along the way. Learn how to quickly edit your files using filters, presets and more, comparing your raw images to your edited images side by side as you go. You’ll love having the confidence to boldly experiment with your edits, knowing that it's easy to revert to earlier versions.

27:26

Lesson 7. Histograms, White Balance & Basic Tab

Master some of the most helpful (and important) basic adjustments as Skott shares techniques for using histograms, white balance modifications and more. You’ll gain deeper insight into ways to adjust exposure, contrast, color and sharpness with the fail-safe option to reset or compare your edited work with the original version.

15:36

Lesson 8. Export Options

Learn how the exporting process can become another valuable tool in your post processing work. Discover the best practices for naming, organizing and exporting your photos, and learn about a wide variety of options for leaving your digital fingerprint on your work.

"This is an awesome class. I am brand new to Lightroom and have found this class very informative.The instructor is knowledgeable and his teaching approach is extremely easy to understand and follow. If you are a first timer with Lightroom, you definitely need this class!" - ZcealyHouston, Texas

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Lesson plan

12:18

Lesson 1. Introduction & Catalogs

Meet your instructor, photographer and Lightroom expert Skott Chandler. You’ll kick off the class with an overview of Lightroom and the benefits it provides to photographers of just about every experience level. Next, you’ll gain an understanding of file types and the ways you will work with each as you go from field work to your digital darkroom.

43:24

Lesson 2. Optimizing Settings

Learn how to take more control of your work with settings that are optimized for the best possible outcome. Discover ways to achieve the optimal image resolution to avoid loss of critical information, and create a Lightroom catalog that is personalized to your files and personal workflow preferences.

26:48

Lesson 3. Importing Files & Metadata

Explore myriad options to make the importing process as efficient as possible! Whether you are importing a small or enormous batch of images, Skott’s tips will help you effectively set up your Lightroom preferences to import, handle, sort and identify your work the way you want.

18:18

Lesson 4. Library Tab Module

What are the differences among Lightroom’s catalog, collection and folders? Find out the answer to this and much more as Skott shares tips and troubleshooting techniques for navigating the Library Tab module. You’ll also learn how to apply metadata to your files in order to quickly find and safeguard your photos.

15:10

Lesson 5. Post-Import Management

Delve even deeper into data organization as you work with post-import processes such as sorting, finding lost files and rating your favorite (or least favorite) images. Skott shares tips that will help transform your post-import work experience from arduous to effortless!

11:16

Lesson 6. Develop Tab Module

Carry your work from the Library module into the Develop module with Skott’s help along the way. Learn how to quickly edit your files using filters, presets and more, comparing your raw images to your edited images side by side as you go. You’ll love having the confidence to boldly experiment with your edits, knowing that it's easy to revert to earlier versions.

27:26

Lesson 7. Histograms, White Balance & Basic Tab

Master some of the most helpful (and important) basic adjustments as Skott shares techniques for using histograms, white balance modifications and more. You’ll gain deeper insight into ways to adjust exposure, contrast, color and sharpness with the fail-safe option to reset or compare your edited work with the original version.

15:36

Lesson 8. Export Options

Learn how the exporting process can become another valuable tool in your post processing work. Discover the best practices for naming, organizing and exporting your photos, and learn about a wide variety of options for leaving your digital fingerprint on your work.

The instructor

Skott Chandler, Instructor of The Essential Guide to Lightroom

Skott Chandler is an award-winning photographer. After graduating from Southern Utah University as the Outstanding Graduate of Art and Design, Skott further pursued his photographic career in the MFA program at Savannah College of Art and Design. Skott has exhibited throughout the United States, as well as in France, Hong Kong and Switzerland. Additionally, Skott is a renowned teacher, having taught at the Art Institute of Colorado and the Denver School of Photography.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(22 reviews)

highly recommend

by janehalls1255343 on May 31, 2015

I bought Lightroom to organize my photos--then could never find anything. I had tried the tutorials on the Adobe site and was still lost This class changed everything. I learned a lot and it was very clear for someone new to photography. I love that I can go back when I get confused. Skott is a terrific teacher and I recommend this class to anyone new to lightroom. And yes, I can find my photos when I want them and put them together in another grouping.

I bought Lightroom to organize my photos--then could never find anything. I had tried the tutorials on the Adobe site and was still lost This class changed everything. I learned a lot and it was very clear for someone new to photography. I love that I can go back when I get confused. Skott is a terrific teacher and I recommend this class to anyone new to lightroom. And yes, I can find my photos when I want them and put them together in another grouping.

So Much Information!

by Colorado Rain on April 19, 2015

I have "used" Lightroom for about 2 years, but never knew what I was doing. This class has taught me so much about metadata, organizing my photos, and on and on. The instructor is very easy to follow, and he explains things in a way that even I can understand. Great class!

I have "used" Lightroom for about 2 years, but never knew what I was doing. This class has taught me so much about metadata, organizing my photos, and on and on. The instructor is very easy to follow, and he explains things in a way that even I can understand. Great class!

Nice Class

by cperron3207295 on April 18, 2015

You give very clear information. I always wondered what all the abbreviations and extensions meant; now I know. Thank you

You give very clear information. I always wondered what all the abbreviations and extensions meant; now I know. Thank you

So Far So Good, This Is Very Helpful To Me. I Can Say I Am Learning How To Use Lightroom Correctly,

by adimple on March 31, 2015

So far so good, I doing great, thank you for this wonderful class.

So far so good, I doing great, thank you for this wonderful class.

Great Basics

by traderbil6228189 on January 17, 2015

Lightroom is a complex and powerful program. This class provides an excellent basic primer for many of the critical functions. I recommend it highly particularly for those who are new to or inexperienced with using Lightroom.

Lightroom is a complex and powerful program. This class provides an excellent basic primer for many of the critical functions. I recommend it highly particularly for those who are new to or inexperienced with using Lightroom.

Instructor Skott Chandler uses Lightroom 5 for his in-class demonstrations, so students with the same version will have an identical experience following along at home. However, the techniques used in this class lend themselves to any version of Lightroom you might have, so it’s not required in order to take the class!

Not per se; instructor Skott Chandler walks you through the ins and outs of using Lightroom software with tips for photographers who deal with field work and editorial themes, and whose experience level ranges from amateur hobbyists to career professionals. Whether you typically process 5 photos at a time or 5,000, you’ll love Skott’s tips for importing, sorting, organizing and re-imagining your work using efficient and cutting-edge digital tools.